This chapter was very hard to write as I wanted to strike the right chord. I feel like I did so tell me if you think I did. I think this was a real turning point in Quinn's and Nadine's relationship.

So enjoy (if you can) and review!

NJPNJPNJP

Mercedes flipped a page in her book and highlighted the next sentence. "How'd you like yesterday?"

Puck moved his head slightly so he could see her fully. "What part?"

"Our part!" She scowled.

He chuckled. "I liked having breakfast with Finn and dinner with the guys. This place was packed for little old me."

"It's not everyday you turn twenty one. I'm still mad Marcy snuck you a wine cooler with lunch."

"Mini Mama knows me. She knows getting my first legal drink was what I really wanted."

She narrowed her eyes. "You've been drinking for years!"

"Legal, Mama. Legal."

"It was legal back home."

"You're so cute when you get riled up."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Stop all that."

"You've been so uptight since you've lost the weight. Being skinny stole your sense of humor."

She waved a hand. "I'm not skinny and you know it!"

"I can pick you up, even as weak as I am, with one hand."

"Oh shut up." She blushed.

He chuckled. "What are you going over now?"

She made a face. "Childhood diseases. It's so gross. Honestly I should be helping Marcy come up with a cure for this plague but I'm not good with that sort of thing. I'm much more an artist than a scientist."

"I think you could do it, Mama. You're mad smart. Always have been."

"Thank you, sweetie." She patted his hand.

He turned his hand over to capture hers. "I never thanked you."

"Thanked me? For what?" She was confused.

"Everything you've ever done for me. You talked sense into me when Q was pregnant, you dated me even when you were sure I didn't really want you, you helped me make sure my daughter had the best chance at life. You were there for me when I was spiraling after. I was a complete jackass that summer but you held me down.

I told you something I'd never told another living soul and you were there for me without a word. You stayed by my side even when I wasn't always looking out for you.

You let me live with you out in Cali and supported me through all my family drama, you invited me to live with you in Milan and dragged me and mine into your world as your family.

You even gave me Q. She would still be fightin me off right now if it wasn't for you and now we're having our second daughter. I just gotta say thank you. And I love you.

I want you to take care of them for me. They're going to need you and Mike. And when Beth gets older, tell her about me. Things that only you know. Help her and Noelle know me the way you do."

Mercedes sniffled. "You bet. I'm going to tell them all about how great a man you really are. I'm so glad Mal was able to talk you into doing that video for them cuz no one can tell your story the way you can but I'm sure going to try."

"Good." He yawned. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you, too No-No."

"I'm tired." His lashes fluttered. "Sing to me?"

"You want me to sing to you?"

"Yeah. You're my favorite voice ever."

"Okay. I'll sing you to sleep now and when you wake up, I'll be right here."

He nodded and closed his eyes.

She began singing low in Italian. It was an old lullaby her mother had sung her and her siblings years ago. It was a simple tune but it never failed to make her sleepy.

It had the desired effect on Puck as soon he was snoring softly.

She yawned and got up to kiss his lips gently before resettling in her chair to finish studying.

Half an hour later, Quinn came in. "How was he?"

"He was good. We just watched TV and talked while I studied." Mercedes began closing her books and closing her utensils.

"Good. He likes those days the best." Quinn looked at him fondly.

"So do I. Did you get some rest?"

"Yes, Mom. I ate, showered and napped. I'm in my second trimester. I have energy."

"I just want to make sure. Is Mikey outside or something?"

"No, he went to the bathroom. Mom is watching all the kids. Quad is having a time cutting his fourth tooth."

"Poor baby. The boys are carrying on from cutting their first. Cai is so much worse off than Mike-Mike. I don't know what to do for him."

"I just hate that he was diagnosed as asthmatic. I know that's a real fear Mikey had."

"We'll get through it. Marcy got through it as a baby and we'll get him to toddlerhood where Mikey can take over."

"Well I appreciate you sitting with Noah while I made myself tolerable."

Mercedes giggled. "You're always tolerable, Q."

"Ah, ah! That's Lucy to you now. I'm serious. I want my family to call me Lucy again."

"Okay, okay. Lucy Goosey."

Quinn laughed.

A beeping sounded.

"Oh no!" She began panicking. It wasn't the first time Puck had stopped breathing and each time scared her to pieces.

Nurses flooded the room and had them wait outside as they tried to get Puck breathing again.

Mike walked up. "What's going on?"

"He's stopped breathing." Quinn took his hand.

He squeezed hers. "They'll help him."

Mercedes wrapped her arms around his free one and squeezed hard. "Please, God."

Quinn closed her eyes and murmured the plea over and over.

After a dramatically slowed down fifteen minutes, the on duty doctor called it. Noah Puckerman's time of death was 10:28 AM.

MMC

Nadine shut the door behind herself and blew out a giant breath. She looked over and saw Quinn sitting on one of the few pieces of furniture she actually owned for her porch. "Quinn? Why are you outside, honey?"

Quinn stared straight ahead at nothing. "I was hot."

"You must be freezing." Nadine came closer.

"I am cold." Quinn blinked but her vision didn't sharpen.

Nadine sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her. "It was a lovely service. He would have been extremely bored though."

"Yeah."

"I bet he's looking down on all of us, upset at how somber we're being. He always tried to make his own fun." Tears slid down Nadine's cheeks as memories of her baby boy assaulted her. "I remember when he went to kindergarten. I didn't let him go to preschool and he was so anxious to go to school and meet new people. He wanted friends.

I didn't want to let him go. Mom had to make me let go. She said for me to stop holding him back. That he had to be a man cuz his father sure wasn't."

"I'm sorry he didn't come." Quinn turned to view Nadine.

The Jewish woman's face hardened. "I will never forgive him for this. My baby, his son died and he didn't have the guts to show up? That man is dead to me."

Quinn took her hand.

"My baby." Nadine raised her face to the wan sun, trying to halt her tears but her heart was broken. "My little boy. He's really gone."

"Marcy says he'll live inside you forever. And then we'll see him again."

"He told me. He said it made him feel better. Your sister oughta write books."

"She does." Quinn looked back across the street, not really realizing she was staring at an empty house.

"She does?" Nadine was surprised.

"Yeah. She's been writing since forever. She's been published since right before her twelfth birthday."

"How could I have not known about that?"

"She doesn't advertise it. It's really personal to her."

"So actual books?"

"Yes. She writes a bit of everything. I was reading one to Noah. Before…"

"Did he like it?"

"He loved it. I read him a couple of her children's books and he liked those so I moved onto one of her young adult books. They really captured his attention."

"I've always wanted him to love reading. I'd love to read what she has."

"I can give you my copy. I have a few. We always buy a bunch when she publishes a new one."

"You would think I'd hear about a child publishing books."

"No one knows she's young. She has a pseudonym, Lily Emerald."

"But her photo-?"

"Is of a painting she did when she was five. Her information is very vague as well."

"Wow. I'd like your copy. I'm going to look her up." She looked towards her house full of funeral goers before looking back at Quinn. "Later."

They sat in companionable silence, a conversation about Marcy's writing actually lifting their spirits.

"Are you prepared for the wedding?" Nadine broke the quiet after a while.

Quinn blinked, finally knocked out of her stupor. "Huh?!"

"Noah told me that Mike proposed."

"I- I-"

"It's okay. It's what he wanted. I want that for you, too. You're having a baby and shouldn't be alone. Mike is lovely. You'll be happy with him and Mercy."

Tears brimmed in Quinn's eyes. "I wish it wasn't necessary."

"I know, dear." Nadine patted her hand.

Quinn sniffled. "I'm glad Shelby brought Beth. I hate that she had to attend her first funeral so young and that of her father but I was happy to see her."

"Me too. She just loved your nieces and nephews."

"Her and Mickey's conversation about fashion sounded like one I've had with Merce plenty of times."

"Babies talkin about fashion." That tickled Nadine.

Quinn licked her lips. "Would you like to come?"

"Come where?"

"To the wedding."

"Oh, you wouldn't want me there."

"You're family now. Mrs. C said so. We'll always want you and Nic and Jake and Mrs. Pirelli in our lives. I want the baby to know you all."

"Oh thank you." Nadine hugged her. "That would be just great."

Quinn sniffled as she laughed. "You just can't bring Finn."